Rose plant named ‘98-0036’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘98-0036’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaflets; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large double creamy white-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘98-0036’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Roseplant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a pottedRose, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘98-0036’.

The new Rose is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theInventor in Fåborg, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program wasto develop new uniform potted Rose varieties with novel and attractiveflower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproductionlongevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Mar. 1, 2004 of a proprietary Rose selection identified ascode number MUT-08, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with anunnamed Rose selection, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The cultivar 98-0036 was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Feb.10, 2005 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Fåborg, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose by cuttings in Fåborg, Denmarksince Dec. 1, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Roseare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘98-0036’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘98-0036’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaflets.    -   3. Freely branching growth habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large double creamy white-colored flowers.    -   6. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the parent selections inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in        plant habit.    -   2. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in        flower color.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivarEvera 122, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.11/700,607. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fåborg, Denmark,plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Evera 122 inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose had longer lateral branches and        shorter internodes than plants of the cultivar Evera 122.    -   2. Plants of the new Rose had longer leaves than plants of the        cultivar Evera 122.    -   3. Plants of the new Rose had fewer stamens and pistils per        flower than plants of the cultivar Evera 122.    -   4. Plants of the new Rose and the cultivar Evera 122 differed in        flower color as plants of the cultivar Evera 122 had        pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Rose, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Rose.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘98-0036’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘98-0036’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rose has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs, followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumnand winter in Fåborg, Denmark, in a glass-covered greenhouse and undercommercial production practices. Plants were pinched one time and wereabout 12 to 14 weeks old when the photographs and description weretaken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged22° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about20,000 lux. Three cuttings were grown in 12-cm containers. Plants usedin the description represent a single plant. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida cultivar 98-0036.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Rosa hybrida identified as code number MUT-08, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Rosa hybrida,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten to twelve days at 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            24° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, medium thickness; white            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Freely branching habit;            about three lateral branches develop from the pinch; dense            and bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 23 to 25 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 27 cm to 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm to 25 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 146A. Thorns: Density: None to about three per linear cm.            Shape: Triangular with sharp acuminate apices. Height: About            3 mm to 6 mm. Diameter, at base: About 3 mm. Color,            immature: Close to 151C. Color, mature: Close to 162B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with three to five leaflets            per leaf; occasionally seven leaflets.        -   Leaf length.—About 10 cm to 12 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 2.5 cm to 4.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 9 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 1.8 cm to 3 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrulate.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            147A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B            tinted with close to 59A. Fully developed, upper surface:            Darker than 147A; venation, close to 146A. Fully developed,            lower surface: Close to 191A tinted with close to 59A;            venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Leaf petiole length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Leaflet            petiole length: About 2 mm. Leaf petiole diameter: About 1            mm to 1.5 mm. Leaflet petiole diameter: About 1 mm to            1.5 mm. Leaf petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous; rough. Leaflet petiole texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Leaf and leaflet petiole color,            upper surface: Close to 146A tinted with close to 59A. Leaf            and leaflet petiole color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Stipules.—Quantity: Two per leaf. Length: About 1 cm to            1.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Truncate; sessile. Margin: Serrate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery. Color, upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 137A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double creamy white-colored            flowers with numerous petals. Consistently symmetrical            rosette flowers. Flowers borne singly on erect and strong            peduncles; one terminal flower per lateral branch. Flowers            persistent.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,            optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden            conditions; flowering intermittent. Plants begin flowering            about 78 days after planting.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 cm.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.            Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.7 cm to            1 cm. Color: Between 144B and 137C.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Numerous; about 70 per flower arranged in            numerous whorls. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Width:            About 2.5 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded,            retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to N155D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to N155D to N155C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to N155D to N155C; with development, towards            the margin, tinted with close to 144A. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to N155C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About            2.5 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 5 mm to 9 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; leathery. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 146B. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 137C; towards the margin, close to 146B.            Fully expanded, upper surface: More green than 191A. Fully            expanded, lower surface: Lighter than 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect.            Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm.            Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 40 per flower.            Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther            color: Close to 15C. Filament color: Close to 154D. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 164A. Pistils:            Quantity: About 50 per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm to            2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 1C. Style length: About 3 mm to            6 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Receptacle shape:            Cup-shaped. Receptacle height: About 7 mm to 8 mm.            Receptacle diameter: About 8 mm to 9 mm. Receptacle texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color: Close to 144A.            Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Roses.

1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘98-0036’ as illustrated anddescribed.